Illegal migrants, (BETAPHOTO/Customs Authority)
The number of illegal migrant entries into the EU has decreased due to the coronavirus pandemic and restrictions on movement, while the only European refugee route that has seen a significant increase is the Western Balkan one, through Serbia, shows the latest risk analysis conducted by Frontex.
The document, which the Balkan Security Network portal conveyed on July 19, states that the illegal entry of 125,226 people across EU borders was registered in 2020, which was a decrease of 13 percent compared to 2019, when the illegal entry of 141,846 refugees was documented.
The analysis adds that unlike in previous years, when the majority of migrants in Serbia came from Afghanistan and Pakistan, the top spot is now held by Syrians, with Afghans and Iraqis in second place.
The Frontex analysis suggests that the increase on the Western Balkan route is a consequence of previous migratory pressure on the route passing through the Morava-Vardar valley. What remains unknown is how many people from Serbia cross into Bosnia and Herzegovina over the Drina, because there are no accurate statistics for that border.
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